Panasonic's new Lumix DC-G9 is the company's first mirrorless camera aimed specifically at professional stills photographers. Geared for high-speed capture at up to 20fps, the G9 offers the same 20MP Four Thirds sensor as the video-centric GH5, but with tweaked image processing for better JPEG image quality. If 20 Megapixels isn't enough for you, the G9 is able to shift its sensor (more on that below) eight times to create an 80MP Raw image with ultra-high resolution.

The G9's image stabilization is as good as you'll find on any interchangeable lens cameras, capable of reducing shake by up to 6.5 stops. Panasonic claims that this system still offers that level of stabilization at wider focal lengths when using non-stabilized lenses, and maintains it at longer focal lengths with those with built-in IS, where it can use 'Dual I.S. 2.'

There's a refined 'Depth from Defocus' AF system on the G9, which offers 225 selectable points and improvements in both speed and subject tracking. The camera is capable of shooting bursts at 20 fps with continuous autofocus using its electronic shutter (9 fps with mechanical) and 60 fps with single AF (12 fps with mechanical). The buffer allows for up to 50 Raw images to be captured in a single burst.

The G9 samples the full width of the sensor for all resolutions, which means no crop and higher quality.

The G9 has a sturdy metal body that's sealed against the elements and freezeproof to -10C/+14F. Direct controls include a lockable mode dial with a sub-dial for drive mode, an AF-point selection joystick and function switch for quickly swapping settings, similar to what's found on some Olympus cameras. The OLED electronic viewfinder is downright enormous, with a maximum magnification of 0.83x equivalent and a resolution of 3.68 million dots. A 3" fully articulating touchscreen LCD is also available. The camera has two SD memory card slots, both of which support UHS-II media. Ports include HDMI, microphone, headphone, flash sync, USB 3.0 (Micro B) and wired remote.

On the video front, the G9 can capture UHD 4K video at up to 60 fps, with a maximum bitrate of 150Mbps. It samples the full width of the sensor for all resolutions, which means no crop and higher quality. You can shoot slo-mo video at up to 60 fps in 4K and 180 fps at Full HD. The G9 can use its video capabilities to capture both 6K and 4K stills.

The G9 is powered by the same DMW-BLF19 battery as the GH5 with a CIPA rating of up to 400 shots per charge. A 'power save LVF' mode puts the camera into sleep mode when the EVF is not in use, and the camera turns on instantly when the shutter release is half-pressed. This mode improves battery life by roughly 2.3x. An optional battery grip holds an additional DMW-BLF19, bringing the CIPA number up to 800 shots. The G9 can be charged over USB.

Lastly, connectivity. While most cameras are still using 802.11b/g/n, the G9 uses the modern 802.11ac standard. Using the Panasonic Image App you can remotely control the camera, automatically transfer photos and copy settings from one G9 to another. Bluetooth 4.2 LE maintains a constant connection between the camera and smartphone and a basic app can be used as a remote shutter release.

The DC-G9 will ship in January 2018 for $1699 body only. The DMW-BGG9 grip will arrive at the same time for $349.

Press Release

Panasonic LUMIX G9 - The Ultimate Photo Shooting Camera

Featuring High Picture Quality, an 80-megapixel High Resolution Mode and 6.5-stops of compensation with or without Dual I.S. 2.0 compatible LUMIX lenses

November 8, 2017 (Newark, NJ) – Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is proud to introduce a new flagship Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, the LUMIX G9 that boasts outstanding mobility with ultra-high-speed response. Evolving from the GH5’s high performance, the LUMIX G9 achieves the highest-ever image quality in photo shooting by elevating resolution, gradation and color reproduction with its 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor without a low-pass filter. A High Resolution mode is also added that provides 80-megapixel equivalent images in JPEG /RAW formats produced in-camera.

The Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) in the LUMIX G9 is dramatically improved, making it possible to use 6.5 stops of compensation with or without Dual I.S.2.0 compatible Lumix lenses. This is achieved by a more accurate calculation of shake in various shooting conditions, utilizing information of angular velocity and motion vector acquired not only from the gyro sensor but also from the image sensor and accelerometer sensor.

The high-speed, high-precision AF with DFD technology achieves the world’s fastest*1AF speed of 0.04 sec*2. With its high tracking performance to the subject, the LUMIX G9 does not lose the target subject.

The LUMIX G9 also boasts the fastest-in-class*3 20 fps (AFC) / 60 fps (AFS) in 20.3-megapixel full resolution to capture those unmissable moments. Complying with 6K/4K PHOTO, users can choose the most suitable burst shooting mode in addition to the regular consecutive shooting mode and new Pre-burst shooting mode depending on the situation. The LUMIX G9 has the largest-in-class*1 LVF (Live View Finder) with a stunningly high magnification ratio of approx.1.66x / 0.83x (35mm camera equivalent). No blackouts occur even in high-speed burst shooting*4. Night mode and an AF Point Scope function is also integrated.

To withstand heavy field use, the LUMIX G9 is composed of a magnesium alloy full die-cast front / rear frame and is not only splash proof*5 and dustproof but also freeze proof down to -10 degrees centigrade. The largest-in-class Status LCD on the top of the camera makes shooting even easier and more comfortable. For the rear monitor, a 3.0-inch free-angle LCD in 3:2 aspect ratio with 1,040K-dot high resolution is equipped. The G9 has a double SD Memory Card slot, compatible with the high-speed, high-capacity UHS-II.

The LUMIX G9 includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® connectivity to offer a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing with easy operation. Compatibility with Bluetooth 4.2 (called BLE: Bluetooth Low Energy) enables constant connection with a smartphone or tablet with minimum power consumption. For Wi-Fi, 5GHz (IEEE802.11ac) can be selected in addition to the conventional 2.4GHz (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) for an even more secure and stable connection.*1 As a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, as of November 8, 2017*2 In 1-Area AF, at wide-end with H-ES12060 (CIPA) in LVF120 fps setting.*3 With H-ES12060, as a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, as of November 8, 2017*4 In AFC 20 fps/ AFS 60 fps setting*5 Splash Proof is a term used to describe an extra level of protection this camera offers against exposure to a minimal amount of moisture, water or dust. Splash Proof does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this camera is subjected to direct contact with water.

1. Highest picture quality in the history of LUMIX camerasEvolving even further from the performance of the LUMIX GH5, the LUMIX G9 achieves the highest image quality in the history of all LUMIX G Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras. The 20.3-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor without low-pass filter drives the maximum performance of the lens and the Venus Engine 10 rendering high-precision yet natural images with its Multipixel Luminance Generation and Intelligent Detail Processing. An optimum gradation setting according to the characteristics of the sensor provides a wider dynamic range for smoother gradation. Plus, an AR coating on the sensor minimizes ghosts and flaring even in backlighting. A Tuned Three-dimensional Color Control detects not only hue and saturation but also brightness, and applies optimal control according to the value of each factor. This achieves rich color reproduction from dark to bright parts of the image, which especially improves the expression of skies or human skin. A Tuned High Precision Multi Process NR boasts high noise identification accuracy and preserves details even after the noise reduction process, which results in natural textures and precise detail especially in middle to high sensitivity image recording.

The new High Resolution mode produces an 80-megapixel equivalent (10368 x 7776) image by synthesizing 8 consecutively shot images while shifting the sensor. Not only JPEG but also RAW can be produced in the camera, without the need for software processing. This magnificently high resolution photo is ideal for landscape and product photography using a tripod.

2. Advanced Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) and Dual I.S.To achieve stable handheld shooting even in slower shutter speed, the Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) in the LUMIX G9 is further advanced. Panasonic adopted a newly developed algorithm that precisely calculates shake information acquired not only from a gyro sensor, but also from the image sensor and accelerometer sensor. This enables more accurate shake detection and compensation, making it possible to use a 6.5-stop slower shutter speeds*1. Notably, movement with characteristically low-frequency is suppressed more effectively to use slower shutter speeds.. With its high mobility achieved by the compact, lightweight design and powerful Body I.S., this LUMIX G Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera makes previously impossible shooting, such as handheld 800mm (35mm camera equivalent) ultra-telephoto shooting possible.

Combining an this B.I.S.(Body Image Stabilizer, 5-axis) and O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer, 2-axis), the 5-axis Dual I.S. (Image Stabilizer) 2*2 in the LUMIX G9 compensates for larger movements that were conventionally uncontrollable. Maximizing both O.I.S and B.I.S. is highly beneficial in telephoto shots and in adverse situations, such as at night or with one-handed shooting with a 6.5-stop slower shutter speed*3.

The 5-axis Dual I.S. 2.0 works for both photo and motion picture recording, including 4K video. Panasonic LUMIX G DSLM Cameras offer a wide variety of digital interchangeable lenses and most of them support the 5-axis Dual I.S. in the LUMIX G9. The B.I.S. compensates for camera movement even when a lens without O.I.S. (e.g. a cine lens) is used.*1 Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=60mm (35mm film camera equivalent f=120mm), when H-ES12060 is used.*2 5-Axis Dual I.S.2 can be used with the following lenses as of November 8, 2017: H-HSA12035, H-ES12060, H-FS14140, H-HSA35100, H-FSA45200, H-FSA100300, H-RS100400 and H-ES200. Firmware update is required for some lenses.*3 Based on the CIPA standard [Yaw/Pitch direction: focusing distance f=140mm (35mm camera equivalent f=280mm), when H-FS14140 is used

3. Outstanding tracking performance and high-speed, high-precision AFThe DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology*1 calculates the distance to the subject by evaluating two images with different sharpness levels while instantly consulting the optical characteristics data of the current lens. Panasonic’s combination of the Contrast AF with DFD technology was further advanced in the LUMIX G9 together with the speed of the sensor drive during auto focusing in photo shooting, which achieves 480 fps. Consequently, the LUMIX G9 realizes an ultra-high-speed AF of approximately 0.04 sec*2 and 60 (AFS) / 20(AFC) fps high-speed burst shooting using an electronic shutter at full resolution.

Thanks to the high processing performance of the Venus Engine 10, the LUMIX G9 incorporates Deep Learning technology that detects a human body in addition to the conventional face and eye detection. The AF Point Scope function is also new on the LUMIX G9. It magnifies subjects that are far away to capture them in clear focus.

For more precise focusing, the focus areas are increased from 49 to 225-areas in addition to the conventional Face/Eye Recognition, Tracking AF, 1-area AF and Pinpoint AF. Users can make a group of 225 focus areas and move or change the size of it as they like according to the composition. All focusing operations are easily controlled with the newly adopted joystick located on the thumb position without taking the eyes off of the subject even when using an LVF or releasing the finger from the shutter button. The LUMIX G9 is equipped with AF Custom Settings with which users can set AF Sensitivity, AF Area Switching Sensitivity and Moving Object Prediction Level. Four patterns of presets are also available for frequently used situations.*1 Contrast AF with DFD Technology works only with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lenses.*2 In 1-Area AF, at wide-end with H-ES12060 (CIPA) in LVF120 fps setting.

4. High mobility for agile field shootingThe LUMIX G9 boasts outstanding performance to achieve the fastest-in-class*1 20 fps (AFC) / 60 fps (AFS) at 20.3-megapixel full resolution. Taking advantage of its blackout-free LVF (Live View Finder), it is the best mirrorless camera for capturing moving subjects in sharp focus. With its high tracking performance to the subject, the LUMIX G9 doesn’t loses the target subject. Pre-burst shooting is also new on LUMIX G9, which starts shooting 0.4 sec in advance to releasing the shutter.

For more continuous burst shooting, the 6K PHOTO*2 makes it possible to capture the unmissable moments at 30 fps by extracting the frame with the best timing out of a 6K burst file (in 4:3 or 3:2 aspect) to save as an approx.18-megapixel equivalent high resolution photo. The 4K PHOTO is also upgraded to enable 60 fps high-speed capture in approx.8-megapixel equivalent resolution. In 6K PHOTO /4K PHOTO, three exclusive modes can be chosen from depending on the situation; 6K Burst / 4K Burst, 6K Burst (Start/Stop) / 4K Burst (Start/Stop) and 6K Pre-burst / 4K Pre-burst. Users can choose the most suitable burst shooting mode in addition to the regular consecutive shooting mode in full resolution depending on the situation.

The new High Sensitivity MOS Sensor helps to suppress the rolling shutter effect. Plus, the Venus Engine 10 makes it possible to apply Post Recording Refinement over the pictures to correct distortion and reduce noise when playing back or cutting images out of the 6K burst file / 4K burst file by compensating the signal information between the consecutive frames. As a result, the picture quality of 6K PHOTO /4K PHOTO shot at high shutter speed in high sensitivity or those shot when panning are dramatically improved.*1 ‘As a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera, as of November 8, 2017.*2 ‘6K PHOTO’ is a high speed burst shooting function that cuts a still image out of a 4:3 or 3:2 video footage with approx.18-megapixel (approx. 6000 x 3000 effective pixel count) that the 6K image manages.

5. Innovative LVF (Live View Finder) with high magnification ratio and excellent performanceThe LVF (Live View Finder) is the key factor for completing the ultra-high-speed response of the camera. The LUMIX G9 has the largest-in-class LVF with a stunningly high magnification ratio of approx.1.66x / 0.83x (35mm camera equivalent). The magnification ratio can be switched among 0.7x, 0.77x and 0.83x according to the shooting situation. High-precision, high-speed OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display features 3,680K-dot high resolution and 100% field of view. Adoption of OLED for the LVF achieves smooth display at 120 fps and high speed response with minimum time lag of less than 0.005 sec as well as 10,000:1 high contrast for exceptional visibility. No blackout occurs even in high speed burst shooting, so as not to lose sight of the subject. With an eye point of approximately 21 mm, it offers high visibility with comfort for users wearing glasses. It is always sharp and clear from the center all the way to the corners. The LUMIX G9 incorporates Night mode which provides mild backlighting. It lets the user watch the subject comfortably immediately after viewing the monitor while in a dark situation for a long period of time.

6. Optimal design for Intuitive control and operationThe LUMIX G9 includes a largest-in-class Status LCD on the top, allowing users to check the settings at a glance.

The Fn lever makes it possible to change the setting quickly once frequently-used settings are assigned. The LUMIX G9 also comes with a joystick at the optimal position to achieve intuitive focus area control without taking the eyes off of the viewfinder, together with a focus lever and AF mode button. Dials on the grip and Fn buttons are also located in the best position to operate unseen.

7. High mobility and rugged design for heavy field useTo be tough enough to withstand even heavy field use, the main structure is composed of a magnesium alloy full die-cast front/rear frame. Secure construction and a sealing for every joint, dial, and button make the LUMIX G9 not only splash proof and dustproof but also freeze proof down to 14°F (-10 degrees Celsius).

The LUMIX G9 is equipped with a double SD Memory Card slot compatible with high-speed, high capacity UHS-II. Users can flexibly choose the recording method from Relay Recording, Backup Recording or Allocation Recording. In Relay Recording, the data will be written on the SD Memory Card in the second slot when the SD Memory Card in the first slot is full. The content will be written in both SD Memory Cards in the first and second slot simultaneously in Backup Recording. In Allocation Recording, data is automatically allocated to the SD Memory Card in the designated slot by the type of content – RAW, JPEG, 6K PHOTO / 4K PHOTO, or 4K video data. For example, users can store only photos on the SD Memory Card in slot 1 and videos in slot 2. Moreover, both slots are equipped with access lamps so users can tell which SD Memory Card is under writing and which can be ejected at a glance.The LUMIX G9 enables not only power charging but also power feeding via USB, which enhances extended shooting time.

8. Other Features･3.0"1040k-dot Free-angle Monitor Adopting a static-type touch control system, the 3.0-inch free-angle rear monitor in 3:2 aspect with 1,040K-dot high resolution features approx.100% field of view. It uses a pixel structure of RGB (Red / Green / Blue) and White to feature even higher visibility in sunny outdoor scenes. It tilts up and down by approx.270-degree which makes shooting at either high or low angles even easier. Night mode can also be applied to the display on the rear monitor.･Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 5GHz (IEEE802.11ac) / 2.4GHz (IEEE802.11b/g/n) The LUMIX G9 integrates Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® connectivity to offer a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing with easy operation. Once the camera is connected to a smartphone or tablet installed with Panasonic's dedicated application software Image App for iOS / Android, users can shoot, browse and share images remotely. Compatibility with Bluetooth 4.2 (called BLE: Bluetooth Low Energy) enables constant connection with a smartphone/tablet with minimum power consumption. This enables the camera to activate by simply using a smartphone/tablet or to add GPS geotag on the photos automatically. Furthermore, the settings of a LUMIX G9 camera can also be copied and transmitted wirelessly to other G9 cameras when using multiple G9 cameras.

For the Wi-Fi, 5GHz (IEEE802.11ac) is effective in addition to the conventional 2.4GHz (IEEE802.11b/g/n. This provides even secure and stable connection not only with a smartphone/tablet but also with other devices on location for smooth remote control. Transmission speed of photo/video data is also increased up by using the 5GHz-band*. * 5 GHz Wi-Fi is not available in some countries.

9. Optional Accessories Specially Designed for LUMIX G9･Battery Grip DMW-BGG9The LUMIX G9 is compatible with the new Battery Grip DMW-BGG9. By using two batteries, one in the camera and the other in the grip, the DMW-BGG9 extends the battery life for longer shooting time. It also makes handling more comfortable even in vertical angle shooting. The DMW-BGG9 also provides intuitive operation with a joystick. Exclusively designed for the LUMIX G9, the DMW-BGG9 perfectly matches the camera, boasting a rugged, splash proof, dustproof and freeze proof design.-Eye Cup DMW-EC4The Eye Cup DMW-EC4 makes it even more comfortable to see the high-performance LVF of the G9.-Battery Charger DMW-BTC13The Battery Charger DMW-BTC13 enables quick charging of the Battery Pack DMW-BLF19 from an AC outlet using the bundled AC adopter. -Shoulder Strap DMW-SSTG9The Shoulder Strap DMW-SSTG9 is a length-adjustable shoulder strap. The camera can be detached or replaced quickly to prepare for the next photo opportunity in various shooting situations.

The new G9 and all accessories will be available in early January 2018. The G9 (body only) MSRP will be $1699.99 and the Battery Grip $349.99.

May I have a dream? Please?Sony Alpha A7 III with exactly same specs (mp count, weather sealing, size/weight, etc), sans m43 sensor. I can live with significantly reduced burst rate as well. I even would gladly pay the price of GH5 for it :)

Other than sensor size and resolution though, aren’t the specs on this G9 and the A7 RIII actually pretty similar? Other than those two (major) factors, I think they check most of the same boxes. Hard to see Sony coming down to this price for one of their flagship full-frame bodies.

Shame about the flip out screen. On the one hand they describe the camera as especially for still photographers then they stick on a screen that is mainly useful for video.Does Fuji have a patent on the "tilt in both directions" screen on the X-T2?

One not so positive feature, for a camera at this price range that doesn't target selfie shooters, is the side-hinged articulated screen. Only the E-M1 Mark II and Canon 6D-II use similar designs. All the others use designs that keep the screen centered behind the lens. Panasonic should have adopted designs like those used by Sony (A77, A99 etc), Fuji (X-T2, X-T20 etc), Pentax (K-1, 645Z etc) or Nikon (D750, D850 etc), all of which are far more convenient for waist level shooting and tripod work.

You missed "at this price range". Side-hinge is very popular with cheap cameras. It seems to impress newcomers more than a screen that remains always centered behind the lens, but the preference obviously changes when it comes to experienced shooters or pros. There's a reason the vast majority of high end cameras don't use a side hinge.

The A77/A99 design btw is the best of both worlds, perfect for waist level shooting and tripod work, but also suitable for selfies, to those who care about them.

Maybe. But it's also really functional for something you are going to knock around. Unlike your beloved tilty screen the fully articulated screen can flip all the way around protecting the LCD when you throw it in your backpack.

The A77/A99 design *can* flip the LCD face in, protecting it from the elements. In fact, it's how I normally use it (with my A77 MkI and A77 MkII). When I want to use the screen I just pull it down and it's immediately visible. In contrast, with a side hinge it's not as quick because the equivalent motion results in the screen sticking out from the left of the camera, which is a very inconvenient position. If you want the screen in front of you, you need to flip it 180 degrees then and move it back all the way.

I'm kind of stunned they included 4K 50/60p in the G9. Was fully expecting it to remain a calling card of the GH5 for a while yet.

I think that makes this the cheapest access point to an ILC with 4K 50/60p on the market? Very alluring option for anyone who doesn't need 10 bit and unlimited recording duration. Also probably makes it the best traveler's hybrid on the planet by some margin.

Does it have 50p and 60p? Usually Panasonic likes to just annoy people by needlessly restricting their cameras by removing either PAL or NTSC framerates, depnding on where you buy the camera (as if the billions of people in PAL countries would never use thir camera for, say, YouTube)..

After owning a G7, I have been impressed with image quality but disappointed with build quality, the shutter and front wheel needs replacing because its loose, I'm also disappointed in the contrast auto focusing in video, very slow and unreliable. Its also a fidgety camera, lots of functions to mess with your head and if you haven't picked it up in a while you can easily forget and miss the shot.

What have you heard about the weather sealing of the Sony A7R III? Have you ever heard Sony saying splash-proof?Do you think if ruggedness and weather-sealing need some space in the camera body?Have you ever hold a Sony A7/9 over longer time with a heavier (>800g) lens over a longer time period? Did you try it with a grip (portrait or the extension for the A9)? Didn`t it feel better to have a higher grip with the heavy lens?

The Pen F is certainly appeals to me but it is more practical just to get the EM5 MarkII. On top of that, these are not top of the line models, more like mid range. What I'm talking about is no holds bard flagship model that is compact and not the size of a DLSR.

what a nonsense--people with big hands need "normal" size bodies. I cannot deal with a body of the size of a GMx or the E-M10 and do not want it any smaller than an OM-D E-M1 or Panasonic G80/81/85. The body size doesn't necessarily have to do something with the sensor size.

I am the sort of person that relies on m43 day in day out. My hands fit the EM1mk2 brilliantly, in all weathers, almost or completely silently. If its really dark Ill use my Sony FF kit , but in every way (other than low light noise) it is far inferior. FOR ME.

Carrying big I agree (but also consider the lens), small sensor I agree, paying big... it depends. With Sony A7RIII you pay bigger (3500$), with A9 you pay biggest (4500$). So basically you have only to choose according to your needs/budget, without complaining about others' needs/budget.

"On sony u have either evf or back LCD.... It doesn't need a separate top lcd like DSLRs which have an optical vf and a pathetic live view mode(except canon of course)"

You seem to miss the point entirely. A top LCD, at least on DSLRs, means you can see the settings at a glance, without lifting the camera up or fiddling with it. You can also do this with Fuji, or Leica, even when they are turned off.

With Sony, a) you have to turn it on, and b) lift it to your eye or rotate the camera or flip out the screen to see the data, hoping that it is shown on the screen and the camera is not in some other mode. Fiddly, awkward and unnecessary - had they used an LCD screen on top. Bad design.

I think most of the criticisms are not for the cameras that exists, it's frustration for the ones that don't.

The circa $1000 body with their latest sensor tech and something more than CDAF for more reliable focusing in more scenarios.

People look at Sony, Fujifilm and now even Canon offering these features in their low and mid range enthusiast models and get frustrated to see the m43 system they bought into in terms of lens investment, not doing the same.

indeed I agree by today standard PDAF does better then CDAF. But with more powerful processor coming up, I don't think the need of putting PDAF on sensor will have and advantage. Since camera can identified each object in frame and track them, all and all possible with advance in AI learning

Yeah no... nyet... nein... For this price and this low resolution why not a bridge camera like the RX10 or FZ1000? The RX10IV is an amazing camera with its lens.

Theres is virtually no image benefit for photographs to have a Micro Four Thirds sensor/camera when compared to a 1" Inch.

Besides, the Micro Four Thirds cameras have been steadily increasing on price while features are not different from what one can find in the competitors.

After using exclusively Panasonic for many years I just dumped it in favour of 1" Inch sensors and an old Full-Frame camera. I get the best of both worlds: size and way better image quality.

To me the final nail in the coffin was that Panasonic/Olympus seem to be stuck in the past in relation to their resolution. 20mp still?? Why? Add to that the lack of dynamic range, the poor ISO. And nothing has changed.

Good luck everyone that decides this is a worthy camera. Be prepared to pay an arm and a leg for not so much.

Seems D500 and D7500 went forward to the past with their 24 to 20 MP development isn't it?In reality very few peoples skills outclasses the camera's capabilities. The opposite is much more true and this G9 is of course no exception.

I think MFT dynamic range is rather amazing. Sure they lack 2 stops compared to the best FF cameras from Nikon/Sony/Pentax. But they are just half a stop off the best Canon FF cameras which is the most used brand. If you don't want to carry hefty lenses you have to compromise. The bigger draw back is in the SNR.

FZ1000? For video, it has couple flaws which were not remedied with the latest update: no 4K/60p or equivalent fast 4K/6K photo as this G9 or GH5; no built-in ND filters; rather heavy crop in video mode, so you end up with noticeably noisy 4K video which is using something like half the area of the 1'' sensor, which in turn is substantially less than full width m4/3 sensor.

I say that as FZ1000 owner who is patiently waiting for new 4K/60p cam. And by the way Panasonic likes ot lock in regions, so in Europe you're stuck with 25p until someone found a way to hack the FZ1000 to 30p. I'm not excited to get stuck again at 50p.

I want Panasonic to win, I really do, but to call this a Pro Stills camera, is a Joke. What is so Pro about it? The M43 sensor is Noisy! As dusk hits, noise just fills the image. And it's not even a film-like noise. It's bad. How can you label something Pro, when the files are unusable past iso3200 in low light?

I don't get it. And the Price? It's crazy! I don't care how many bells & whistles they added to this camera. It's got a small sensor. A a full swivel screen? Something more popular to the video crowd? C'mon...

If you're invested in M43, hope you got the pockets for such an overpriced camera. Panasonic, what are you doing? Your direct rival, Sony has an assortment of cameras with different sensor sizes, while you're STILL stuck on M43!

It's time to move on. Panasonic, you're wasting your tech on a small sesor! It's time to move to a large one!

@jnd: As a fellow FZ1000 user, here's how to tweak it from PAL to NTSC:

1. With the camera power OFF and on a steady surface, press and HOLD the three buttons of "AF/AE LOCK" + "DISP." + "WB (right arrow)" at the same time, then turn the power on.

2. Then, with the camera power ON, press and HOLD the three buttons of "AF/AE LOCK" + "DISP." + "ISO (up arrow)" at the same time, then turn the power off.

If you've done it correctly, the LCD screen would display a yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark moment before powering down; the mark would also appear every time you power off the camera (don't worry, it won't affect functionality). If no exclamation mark appears, it's very likely that a button is not pressed firmly while turning the power on/off; just start over from step 1.

Beware that video recorded previously under 25/50 FPS PAL format cannot be played in-camera after this tweak, so better backup your files within the memory card before commencing the tweak.

Well I have it since dec '16 and I am not too fodn of it. It does have great IQ and specs, but the EVF is nothing to write home about at all, interfacing as I said too many times already is a serious drama. But the HiRes mode from what I have seen on the G9 is much better on the Em1.2 since it can handle some movement without too much roblems. G9 remind me more of the artifacts prone PenF for instance. So the Em12 will stay since I use HiRes a lot.

DANG. That's could put "spray and pray" at a whole new level. I shudder thinking of the sheer size of the digital mounds of cr@p I could make with the G9.

Questions for the spec warriors: Whats the advantage of the 6KPHOTO mode that lets you take 18mp stills out of the 6K photo stream? Is it that you get both a movie and photos? But how does that work? Does it tag the stream and generate a photo when you hit the shutter button? So unlike the latest canons that can't take a picture while taking a video (stop video take picture restart video so clunky) I can "have my cake and eat it too", I can just take a video and when I see something good take a picture without stopping the video stream ?

6/4K 'Photo' mode is a special mode geared more to the needs of stills shooting rather than video.

For example, video is in widescreen format, whereas the photo mode can be 4:3 format.

For non-jerky motion, video shutter speeds are usually 1/2*FPS, so for 30fps video, you would use 1/60s. This may be too slow for a still as it may have motion blur (which is what helps the video motion look smooth). So Photo mode allows you to choose shutter speeds more suitable for stills.

Essentially its video whose settings you can optimise for stills extraction, and use the video hardware encoding to achieve high frame rates without filling up the memory/card too quickly.

The battery life doesn't work like that. They calculate certain amount of LCD/EVF usage and even flash between each shot. If you do burst it will last obviously a lot more, not 6.66 seconds of burst :))

"Contrast AF with DFD Technology works only with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lenses."

@DPR, when you review this camera please can you pay special attention to this area. As an owner of a number of non-Panasonic m43 lenses I'd really like to know where AF with these lenses stands. Almost as good as with DFD, or closer to a sluggish compact.

The growing fragmentation in the m43 'camp' is becoming a little concerning.

I'd like the dpreview team to ask Panasonic about supporting DFD for Olympus lenses, and both Panasonic 7 Olympus about creating a standard dual / sync IS system. I know the answer will be corporate hand-waving but they should know that customers care about this.

Excellent idea. I can't find any in-depth review of Olympus lenses on DfD-capable Panasonic bodies. I use a G85 myself and some glass by Olympus, e.g. the 45 1.8 and the 40-150 non-pro. I also tested the 40-150 PRO. All these lenses worked very good on my G85. Especially the PRO lens in C-AF.So it would be really helpfull if a special review could test this. For some, interrested in buying a Panasonic camera, the talk about DfD could sound like: 'You can't use an Olympus lens on a Panasonic body!' And that is absolutelly not true.

@ashmills Then you could simply do that with a GH5, a6500, G85, GX85, I could go on.. There are already a bunch of cameras out right now, some even cheaper that could fit your need. That's not a good example.

@ashmills Then you could simply do that with a GH5, a6500, G85, GX85, I could go on.. There are already a bunch of cameras out right now, some even cheaper that could fit your need. That's not a good example.

Aimed at PROFESSIONAL "STILLS" PHOTOGRAPHERS. Negates answering your video questions as for your fps, I'll take a D500 and 10 less fps over this camera. I'm sure it will easily have more keepers than the 20 shots of the G9.

I swear, I think Nikon is one of the only few that really listen to stills photographers. Their most recent FF camera -Aimed at "Proffesional STILLS Photographers" has a rear Tilt Screen!

This is the GH5.2 This is the GH5 that Panasonic SHOULD'VE waited for, that they should've pushed back the release, but I guess they had to put out the GH5 because of the EM1 mkII. Stills, yeah, Right!

@MrALLCAPSHow does that D500 shoot with silent shutter? How does it do at 2,3,4 second hand-held shots? How good are the 80MP out of camera RAW files? How good are the 10 frames per second I’m NOT capturing with the D500? How good is the 4k60p video? What kind of gimbal do I carry with it? How big heavy are the lenses I have to carry along with the D500?

@MEDISN Ooh, you're salty... I would STILL rather pay 200-300 more for the D500 over this camera. AND I like Panasonic cameras AND I have Lumix bodies, as well as the 20mm & 25mmf/1.4 AND I'm a Canon guy, don't own anything nikon, aside from a lens cleaner AND would STILL buy the D500 -Heck, I would rather a a6000 series camera over this one AND I dislike Sony cameras!!

You're barking up the wrong tree... Throwing all these bells and whistles into a camera with a small sensor isn't going to sell it, especially at this size and that price.

M43 users are leaving for Sony and Fujifilm because of price/size... M43 is returning to a format that's dead, because of the same problems, Four Thirds. Huge bodies, Huge Lenses, Huge Prices, Itty-bitty Sensor.

The typical M43 user is going to wait 2 years to buy this camera on a huge discount.

You are welcome to a preference but your preference is unique to you. If someone needs silent shutter for events, 4k60p and IBIS to stabalize every lens you can mount, then the D500 is useless to them.

"Throwing all these bells and whistles into a camera with a small sensor isn't going to sell it, especially at this size and that price."

Now you're a marketing expert with more knowledge than a Fortune 500 company!? You know what they say about opinions. You are welcome to yours.

"M43 users are leaving for Sony and Fujifilm because of price/size... "

Awesome, let's see this data! Or is this more of your opinion? I went to the A7II for a while then back to mFT as it offered little improvement in what I shoot. Fuji doesn't do anything for me. No IBIS, poor ergonomics with longer lenses, processing headaches with X-trans.

I don't suppose they'd like to specify which speed of 802.11ac as it cover a about a 10x range, from AC600 (which is pathetic) through AC1800 (Ethernet-ish) and on ever upwards (AC5300, etc.)?

Also do they mention if you get 4:2:2 or 10-bit video, as both are useful if you want to extract stills?

If it's significantly smaller/cheaper than the GH5 it might be interesting, as I'd like an IBIS replacement for my current Panasonics. Oh, it's basically the same size :-(

Oh and 20fps is almost always pointless, unless you're after a point of impact for something fast moving, as the amount of data it gathers is just a pain. (My RX100V does 24fps Raw+JPEG but it's just a crazy number of photos and I turned it down to 10fps.)

No matter how many bells and whistles you give it, it’s still a tiny sensor that sucks once the light get low or shutter speeds increase! Fine for video but not good for serious photographers. When your paying this sort of money for a camera and then you have to invest it the lenses, you’re better off going apc or full frame. Unless, you’re just a hobbies. I thought the idea of micro 4 thirds was small cameras? We’ve started going larger and larger again with these small sensors when full frame cameras are honestly about the same size. What am I missing?

If this was a fixed lens camera I could understand people's concern about its size but it is an ILC. ILC's are designed in various sizes to better fit various genres. Sticking to just small bodies would cripple m43 and it would have little to offer over Nikon 1 for example. As it is, there are m43 bodies to cater for everyone's needs. If m43 sensor is good enough why take on the additional penalties a bigger sensor brings? if 43 sensor is not good enough for you, what are you doing here?!

I'm here because I happen to really like Lumix cameras, and I personally feel that as much innovation they brought to mirror less as a whole, they are just wasting tech by using the M43 sensor.

They should at least compete in the APS-C sized sensor range. Sony (Panasonic's Direct rival, not only in cameras) offer 1", APS-C AND Full Frame cameras. I don't understand why they're wasting such good tech on a smaller sensor than their competition.

And the 20 FPS on this camera are not that usefull. The GH5 sensor this camera uses has a 1/25th readout speed, this means you will have heavy rolling shutter effect (The A9 has 1/160th in e-shutter and therefore almost no RS) So for sports it will be a 9FPS camera. This can be easily matched by many cameras out there

I guess "design study" is how pentaxians say total failure? LoL. I'm always rooting for the little guy but Pentax fumbled the ball on mirrorless and I doubt they will pick it up again any time soon......

Settle down kids. It's just a camera. Either you like it, need it or want it..or you don't. Life goes on. I personally love both FF and m4/3. I may buy a Sony FF sometime in the near future (was about to, but something came up so I canceled the order). Anyway, I have a gallery full of m4/3 images from the GH5 I'm extremely happy with AND I love the larger size of the body. It's a joy to hold and use. It's one of the most perfect camera bodies I've ever used with regard to the number of physical buttons, where they are placed and all the other customization options and overall feature set. I haven't found anything yet that left me thinking "Dang...I wish it could..." For now it's me and my GH5 and a FF Nikon Df. Still also waiting to see what Nikon is up to with FF mirrorless. If they wait too long, I'll be a Sony a7 owner.

Yeah just looking at the images of the grip on the Sony, I had the thought that I wished it was slightly deeper and shaped better. I'm sure I could live with it as is though due to all the other good things about the camera.

This is a high end micro four thirds camera. A high end full frame camera like the Nikon D850 weighs a kilo and is worth 3300$. Then there’s the lens. A Nikkor 24-120 f4 weighs 710g. A 24-120 equivalent (12-60) f2.8-4 Panasonic lens weighs 320g. Of course you’re free to estimate that a mft camera with such weight, size and price isn’t reasonable for you. For other people it would be.

Swerky The 12-60 would need to be f/2 equivalent when you account for smaller sensor. It's roughly similar price and weight for equivalent lenses (both focal length and aperture), be it m4/3, APS-C, or full frame.

@jnd to get a similar depth of field, the Panasonic would have to be an f2 yes and probably end up with similar size and weight to the full frame f4. And it would cost more. But apertures don’t change from system to another. An f2 is an f2 wether it’s on full frame or mft. Meaning the lens will gather the same amount of light. I was just comparing between available and closest equivalents.

@Swerky: you're right that f-numbers are a ratio beween the focal length and the diameter of the aperture. However, that doesn't mean that an f/2 on M43 captures the same amount of light as a full frame f/2 does.

It will capture the same amount of light _per unit area_ on the sensor, but since the FF sensor is roughly 4x the size, an f/2.8 FF lens captures more _total_ light than an f/2.8 M43 lens.

If you were to put an f/1.4 lens on the M43 camera then they would both be capturing the same amount of light. Your exposure will change if you do this though, and so you can keep the shutter speed the same but lower the ISO on the M43 camera bringing the IQ closer to the FF*.

Anyway, summary is each option has different compromises, and it's up to the photographer to pick the tool that works best for them. I've settled on FF and 1" sensor cameras, but would be quite happy to work with this G9!

* Assuming that you don't overflow the photon well capacities of each sensel.

Funny how insecure these tiny, grainy, noisy sensor cameras make people who don't shoot them. They somehow feel obligated to rush in here and trumpet the reasons they don't shoot them for reasons beyond me.

For me key aspect of “pro” bodies like D5, 1DX2 or A9 is that they work fast and reliable in any conditions. Panasonic contrast detection autofocus is one of the best contrast based systems, but it is still “just” contrast detection system (hi iso is still limitation). There is no chance to match D5 or A9 af performance in low light. This 20fps is also a bit fake, GH5 is quite good rolling shutter performance but it still have not acceptable for a “pro body”.

In the end it looks quite like mimicking some numbers from competition without core functionality. Or maybe I’m reading it all wrong and in reality it is just targeted in Olympus flagship.

I appreciate the design Panasonic and Olympus bring with a decently sized grip for a comfortable hold to the camera. But this is darn too big. The G9 is deeper than a 5D IV!! Much deeper. One has to have above average hand size to get a good grip of this. And as a stills oriented camera, it better hold to its title because, to my eyes, the EM1 II shows superior image quality to the GH5 in the studio test.

The bodies of the Olympus and Panasonic “pro” cameras are now so big together with their pro lenses that I’ve finally decided to ditch my Olympus EM1 MK II and pre-order the new Sony A7R III to get the FF advantage of much higher image quality. After spending the last 5 years with M4/3 and being constantly disappointed with the IQ even from their pro lenses I’m done with it. I also have the FF Leica Q and the different in IQ between M4/3 and FF is like night and day. My gear is going up on eBay and I won’t have any regrets. Sorry folks.

Earlybird29 - spending 5 years in constant disappointment at the IQ? You likely have extradinary patience, exacting standards that exceed those of professional M4/3 users and potentially buy into the popular myths that there is a huge real world difference in output between camera formats.

I used an E-M1 for awhile and then tried Nikon DX to try to get a bump in IQ. I later tried Nikon FX. In retrospect I was very happy with the IQ of the E-M1, particularly with Oly 75 1.8, 45 1.8, 12-40 Pro, Pany 30-100 2.8. I missed fewer shots due to minor focus error and got better resolution without mirror slap and IBIS. I feel like the IQ evangelists completely ignore factors outside sensor size that are relevant in practical terms (focus accuracy, image stabilization, mechanical vibrations, available lenses with desired weight/quality)

Wow..such sarcasm and venom! A few facts here - "he" is a "she"; I came to Olympus from a Canon 5D Mk II and L lenses as I really wanted something smaller and lighter to carry around. In the early days I had one of the very first OMD EM5s and loved it, loved the small lenses too. Then out came the OMD EM1 so I upgraded. At first I still used the same small lenses (9-18, 45mm, 12mm, 17mm etc) but then Olympus started with the PRO lenses and so everything started to get a lot larger and a lot heavier. I tried the Pana Leica 100-400 on the OMD and it had terrible focusing issues with the OMD which are well documented by others if you search. Along the way I experimented with the Leica SL but found it too heavy. I go out with Joe Cornish sometimes (one of UK's best landscape photographers) and noticed he had moved to Sony A7RII and sang its praises - good enough for me! If you are still happy with m4/3 then great, each to his own! No need to call anyone names though for wanting to move on.

Im glad you are moving on and truthfully few will really care that you are. Hopefully you will get over your 5 year long term disatisfaction with m4/3 IQ and the need to name drop to try and give more authority to your point of view. You may want to reflect that Steve Gosling, also on of the UK's best landscape photographers still uses M4/3 cameras. There is nothing inherently wrong with M4/3 so perhaps while you reflect on why you perceive you have been on the short end of so much sarcasm, you may also want to reflect on whether a M4/3 forum community would be grateful for your negative views.

One last thing, of course I got some great shots using the OMD over those 5 years, but I'm afraid under scrutiny IMHO they are no match for the IQ of FF. I really wanted to love the OMD forever and never have to go back to large heavy gear, but almost imperceptibly that is what has happened over the last couple of years as the m/43 lenses have got bigger and bigger. I have the Olympus 300 f/4 and it is heavier than the new Sony 100-400, which is a stellar performer. I just couldn't get many keepers with the 300p f/4. If you look, the OMD MK II is larger in size to the FF Sony AR7II i which is crazy. Photography has been my passion since I first bought my Petriflex SLR with my first month's wages when I was 17 - lets just say it's well over 40 years ago.

PS George1958, I have also been out with Steve Gosling and know he is an ambassador with m4/3. My view is that if you want to improve your photography then spend time with great photographers and really learn something! I have hardly been negative if I have spent 5 years with m4/3!

M4/3 is getting very porky. The Sony A7r ii is a little lighter (35g to be precise) and the Canon 6d mk ii is only 100g heavier. Then there is the price, at approx $2400 AUD that is well into full frame territory.

Until you put a lens on this body...And I didn't know that the 6D mkII was able to capture 4K or 20fps with afc or being weathersealed...Well, apples Vs oranges.Another camera, another compromise... more choices for us!

There's an equivalency issue here that seems to be getting glossed over. If you have a 4/3 sensor, then the f2 lens you put on it is not the same as the f2 lens you put on your FF. It's really like an f4. It's about the size of the aperture and that doesn't care what size the sensor is. So I'm not convinced that all is smaller with 4/3, just that you get slower lenses so they can be smaller. There are small slow lenses available for most systems.

With the G9 no size advantage exists anymore. All the talk that this camera talks has to be in getting images and image quality. It can no longer be "good for m43" but either be images you can't get with similar APSC/FF cams or better in quality.

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